Repeating fuse apparatus



L. M. KLAUBER. \REPEATING FUSE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC-6. 191a.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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. LAURENCE M. KLAUBER, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNLA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO SAN DIEGO CONSOLIDATED GAS & ELECTRIC CGMRANY, 03: SAN DIEGO, CALI- FORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA,

BEPE ATING FUSE APPARATUS,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I LAURENCE M. KLAU- BER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Repeating Fuse Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuse apparatus for high tension electric lines, such as are employed for the protection of transformers. The general object of the invention is to provide repeating apparatus devoid of mechanism but embodying a plurality of fuses which are thrown into the circuit automatically in succession; one of the features of my invention is the fact that it introduces a time element into the operation of the apparatus which is most advantageous; the invention involves the use of a cut-out between the primary fuse and the secondary fuse and the cooperation between this cut-out and the fuses is such that a good metallic connection is assured for passing the current to the secondary fuse after the primary fuse has blown, that is, burnt out. 7

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the general combination of parts and features described in the following specification all of which contribute to produce a simple and efliclent fuse apparatus for high tension electric lines.

In the drawing which fully illustrates my invention Figure 1 is a plan of apparatus embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus partially shown in section,

ig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus upon an enlarged scale particularly illustrating a preferred construction and organization of the parts for effecting the es-- tablishment of the circuit through the secondary and tertiary fuses.

Fig. -is a detail illustrating one form of V cut-out means that I may use,

Fig. 0

' tion for artificially retarding the moment of establishing the circuit through the secondig. 6 is a detail illustrating how an ind-icating device may be used if desired, to

indicate which fuses have blown,

I ent instance t is 'adetail illustrating a construc- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sgpfi 14 192 1 Application filed December e, 1918. Serial no. 265,536;

Fig. 7 is'a diagrammatic view illustrating simple means that may be employed with one of my cut-outs for actuating a distant mounted by an insulator which may be built up of sections or shells 4, 5.

The structure illustrated constitutes a single unit comprising a primary fuse 6 a secondary fuse 6 and a tertiary fuse 6. At one end, that is to say, the left end, these fuses are all metallically connected to one side of the circuit. In the present instance this is effected through a common conductor bar 7 supported on the intermediate pin 3*,

said bar 7 being supported on a switch plate 8 that carries a pivotally mounted switch 9 the outer end of which is normally received in a socket 10, supported by the pin 3 and connected to the side of the circuit at the line wire 11. Suitable socket clips 12 suport the fuses on the common conductor At the other ends of the fuses suitable means is provided for insulating and suporting them. F or this purpose I provide a bracket plate 13 on,whichis mounted an insulator 14". Two metal straps 15 are clamped by bolts 16 about this insulator and extend laterally so as to clasp between them and supg ort similar insulator blocks 14 and 14, see igs. 2 and 3.

The current normally flows through the switch-bar 9, through the switch plate 8 and through the primary fuse 6. In the prese plate 8 is connected conveniently with the conductor bar-7 through a short channel bar 17.

I provide cut-out means between the insu- 'lated ends of the primary fuse 6 and the the current across it following dielectric rupture, operating to effect a metallic connection from the fuse 6" to the line wire 18.

In any case I prefer to construct the cut- :out means in such a waythat an appreciable time elapsesafterlthe blowing of the primary fuse before current is established through the secondary fuse, either by the v dielectric quality of the rupturable substance 1 15 employed in the-, ut-o ut or, by subsidiary means as hereafter-described.

, I prefer to provide metallic contacts con-' nected respectively with the primary and secondary fuses and constructed so that they tend to impinge; preferably both contacts are resilient and are held apart bya cut-out. In Fig. 3 the resilient contact 26 is connected with spring clips 27 that hold the insulated end of the primary fuse 6 and both these metal parts are-held together by a bolt 28 which holds them on a plate 29 carrying a socket 30 for the end of line wire 18. In Fig. 1 these contacts are broken away but the positions of the line wire 18 and socket 30are indicated in dotted lines.

Cotiperating with contact 26 there is a similar contact 31 mounted on the insulator 14 and connected to a spring clip 32 similar to the spring clip 27.

Fig. 3 shows the cut-out between the primary and secondary fuses-as destroyed, permittin the current to flow from fuse 6 throug contacts .31 and 26 to the line wire 18. Under theseconditions the fuse 6 is virtually a primary fuse and the fuse 6 be comes a secondary.

The contact 31 has an integral extension forming a, contact 33; another Contact 34 connects with fuse 6 through its holding clip 35 on insulator 14. These contacts 33 and 34 are held apartby a cut-out 36.

This cut-out may be of any construction desired but preferably is so constructed that it thoroughly destroysitself when the current passes through it, thereby insuring that no particles of itwill remaln between the contacts in such a way as to preclude their impingement.

For this purpose, this cut-out is in .the

form of a tube 37 of insulating material, the middle portion of which is filled with an explosiveiowder such as smokeless gunpowder 40. pin 37 extends into the powder from each end of the tube, each pin resting in contact with a spur 38 on the adjacent face of the corresponding contact 33 or 34. In order to hold the pins 37 in place and produce a waterproof structure each end of the tube is filled by a plug 39 of para'ilin indicating means to indicate tothe lineman or ozite. The length of the pins may be anything desired, which enables the sparkgap between the pins to be accurately determined. Each end of the tube ma be provided with a paper washer 38. f the dielectric resistance breaks down, the spark explodes the powder and. demolishes the tube, all of which involves a lapse of time. before the contacts finally impinge.

If desired, this time interval may be increased artificially by any suitable means, see Fig. 5, inwhich I illustrate a check cyl inder 41 attached to one of two contacts 42*. and 42 normally held apart by a cut-out .43, the contact 42 being connected with the line wire by a conductor 45 and thecontact 42 being connected with the secondary fuse by a conductor 44. Y

Another embodiment of the explosive cutout is illustrated in Fig 9 in whlch the cut- 0ut.46 may rest upon a suitable support 47, said cut-out consisting oftwo insulators or glass plates 48 held apart by an insulating ring 49, the space surrounded by the insulating ring being filled with an explosive substance 50. The upper terminal 51 has a stem to slide in a fixed guide 52; and after the explosion of'the powder 50 that destroys the cut-out, the terminal 51 gravitates onto the lower terminal 53 and closes the circuit through the secondary fuse.

means is illustrated in Fig. 4. It consists of a tube 19 of insulating material held between two contacts 21 and 22 connected respectively with the primary and secondary fuses. Between metallic plugs 23 the interior of the tube carries a heat sensitive parafiin 24, or the like which will not melt at ordinary temperatures, and which will operate as an insulator to sustain the potential normally existing between the contacts that it separates. Throughout the mass of this parafiin are scattered metallic granules such as shot 25. When the current passes through this parafiinafter the blowing of the primary fuse, the parafiln becomes heated and melts, whereupon the shot 24 roll to the bottom of the tube and form a bridge of metal between the plugs 23.

I may employ a simple heat sensitive filling between two terminals or contacts, see Fig. 10, in which the upper contact 58 is supported on a wax or parafiin filler 59. When the filler 59 melts out the upper terminal or contact 58 descends onto the lower one; Fig. 11 shows a similar construct on in which the terminals 60 have convex faces.

In some casesit may be desired to employ the condition of the fuses. Any suitable purpose, in which 61 represents the two terminals extending into an explosive insulating tube 62, similar to tube 37. When the current passes between the terminals it explodes the tube and setsfree a cord 63 wrapped around the tube and supporting a semaphore disk 64. After the current has passed, the released semaphore disk hangs down as indicated by the dotted lines and this indicates the conditionof'the fuses to the lineman.

A somewhat similar organization of parts may be provided to ring analarm at a distant point, see Fig. 7, in which the cut-out tube 65 supports a weight 66 on a cord 67., the release of which permits the weight to descend upona contact 68, operating to close a circuit 69 including a battery 70 and an alarm 71; the alarm is supposed to be in a station from which the lineman can proceed to replace the burnt out fuses.

In all cases evidently there is a slight potential existing across the position of the cut-out, before the primary fuse has burnt out, but the cut-out is constructed to resist a low potential of this nature, and is intended to rupture only under the high potential of the line.

The introduction of an appreciable time "element into the operation as described above, is highly advantageous for several reasons, among which is the fact that the time interval operates to break any short circuit are that may exist, before the circuit is reclosed throu h the secondary fuse.

In the operation 01 the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the fuse 6 will burn out first; this will be followed by destruction of the cut-out between contacts 26 and 31 whereupon impingement of contacts 26 and 31" occurs, and the new circuit will be formed through fuse 6. When fuse 6 blows out, the cut-out between contacts 33 and 34 is destroyed and contacts 33 and 34 impinge, forming a new circuit through the fuse 6,

contacts 34 and 33, contacts 31 and 26 and thence by plate 29 to line wire '18.

It is understood that the embodiment of my invention described herein is only one embodiment myinvention may take and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of my invention nor in my claims, to the particular embodiment disclosed herein.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a repeating fuse apparatus for high tension lines, the combination of a primary fuse and a secondary fuse each connected at one end in the circuit, the". other ends of said fuses being insulated from each other, and a cut-out between the insulated ends of said fuses constructed to resist dielectrically the normal potential developed across it and between said insulated ends, and operating to rupture under the potential developed across it when said primary fuse burns out.

2. In a repeating fuse apparatus for high tension lines, the combination of a primary fuse and a secondary fuse each connected at one end in the circuit, the other ends of said fuses being insulated from each other, and a cut-out embodying a heat sensitive substance connecting the insulated ends of said fuses. normally unaffected by the poten'tial between said fuses and constructed so as to break down under the action of the potential developed between said fuses after said primary fuse burns out, to effect the closing'of the circuit through the secondary fuse.

3.1 Ina repeating fuse apparatus for high tension lines, the combination of a primary fuse and a secondary fuse each connected at on end in the circuit, the other ends of sai fuses being insulated from each other, contacts metallically connected with said fuses respectively and means connecting said contaqs normally dielectricallyresisting the potential developed between said con tacts, and constructed so as to break down under the action of the potential after the primary fuse burns out and thereby effect a metallic connection between said contacts.

4. In a repeating fuse apparatus for high tension'lines, the combination of a primary fuse and a secondary fuse each connected at one end in the circuit, the other ends of said fuses bein insulated from each other, con

tacts tending to impinge and metallically connected respectively with the said insulated endsof said fuses, and a cut-out holding the said contacts apart constructed to resist dielectrically the potential normally developed across it, and operating to rupture under the potential when said primary fuse burns out, said contacts and cut out conat one end in the circuit, the other ends of said fuses being insulated from each other, contacts tending to impinge and metallically connected respectively with the insulated ends of said fuses, and a cut-out between said contacts and holding the same apart, said cut-out composed of a substance requiring the development of heat to effect its destruction after said primary fuse burns out, and consuming an appreciable time tending to break an existing short circuit before effecting the impingement of said contacts to form the new circuit through said secondary fuse.

li e

6. In a repeating fuse apparatus for high tension lines, the combination of a primary fuse and a secondary fuse each connected at one 'end in the circuit, the other ends of said fuses being insulated from each other, 'contacts tending to impinge, and metallically connected respectively with said insulated ends of said fuses, a cut-out holding said contacts apart, and means for retarding the moment of impingement of said contacts when said primary fuse and said cut-out burn out, thereby tending to break any existing short circuit arc before forming a new circuit through said secondary fuse.

7. In a repeating fuse apparatusfor high tension lines, the combination ofa primary fuse and a secondary fuse each connected at one end in the circuit, the other ends of said fuses being insulated from each other, a resilient contact metallically connected with each of said fuses, said contacts tending to impinge, and a cut-out between said contacts holding the same apart dielectrically resisting the normal-potential across it between said contacts and operating to break down and permit said contacts to impinge under 7 the action of the potential developed between said contacts after said primary fuse burns out.

8. In a repeating fuse apparatus for high tension lines, the combination of a primary impingement of said contacts.

9. In a repeating fuse apparatus for high tension lines, the combination of aprimary fuse and a secondary fuse having a common conductorv bar connecting the same to one wire of the circuit, means for insulating and supporting the other ends of said fuses, resilient contacts metallically connected re 'spectively with the insulated ends of said fuses, and tending to impinge, and a cutout holding said cont-acts apart and dielectrically resisting the normal potential between said contacts, said cut-out constructed so as to break down under the potential between said contacts after said primary fuse burns out.

Signed at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, this 18th dayof November, A D. 1918.

LAURENCE M. KLAUBER. 

